East-West Highway, Federal Route

Malaysia Federal Route 4

Federal Route 4 is a federal road in the north of Peninsula Malaysia. The roads connects Gerik, Perak until Pasir Puteh in Kelantan.- Route background :...

( or ) is a highway constructed by Malaysian Public Works Department

Malaysian Public Works Department

Malaysian Public Works Department ' or Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia ' is the federal government department in Malaysia under Malaysian Ministry of Works which is responsible for construction and maintenance of public infrastructure in Malaysia such as federal and state roads, public government...

 (JKR) to shorten the journey from Kota Bharu

Kota Bharu

Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...

, Kelantan

Kelantan

Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....

 to northwestern towns and cities of Malaysia such as Alor Star

Alor Star

Alor Setar, known as Alor Star between 2004 and 2008, is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, and Kota Setar District's Administrative Centre. It is also a distribution center for manufacturing and agricultural products such as paddy, and the royal seat of the Kedah state since the establishment...

 and Penang

Penang

Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...

. Before East-West Highway was built, the journey from Alor Star to Kota Bharu may reach over 1,000 km (-- miles), but the highway shortens the distance by about several hundred kilometers. The highway includes Lake Temenggor Bridge

Lake Temenggor Bridge

Lake Temenggor Bridge is the longest highway bridge on the East-West Highway, . It crosses Temenggor Lake, a hydroelectric dam in Perak, Malaysia. Near the bridge is the Malaysian Public Works Department monument...

 which crosses Temenggor Lake

Temenggor Lake

Temenggor Lake is the second largest lake in Peninsula Malaysia after Kenyir Lake in Terengganu, Malaysia. This man-made lake is located in Hulu Perak district in the state of Perak. It was created due to the construction of Temenggor Dam to generate electric. The lake is located about 45 km...

, a hydroelectric dam. The East-West Highway is one of the more scenic routes in Peninsular Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...

, due to its hilly nature. There are even places where road signs are put up to warn motorists of elephant

Elephant

Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...

s crossing the road.

History

The East-West Highway was built in the 1970 as a defence-related highway. In the early stages, there was military presence in every kilometre. The road was built to cut off the Communist Party of Malaya from the safe havens in Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

. During construction, the highway was sabotaged by the Communist terrorists during the Communist insurgency

Communist Insurgency War

The Communist Insurgency War, or Second Malaysian Emergency was an insurgency and guerrilla war, conducted by the Malayan Communist Party against Malaysian armed forces from 1968 to 1989.-Origins:...

 from 1970 to 1982. Many of workers were killed and the buildozers was seriously damaged. The East-West Highway was put under strict security control by Malaysian army

Military of Malaysia

The Malaysian Armed Forces , the military of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Royal Malaysian Navy , the Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force...

 when the highway was opened in 1 July 1982. Motorists were allowed to use the highway at daytime only due to security reasons. The military control of the highway was lifted after the insurgency war was ended in 1989.

Memorials

The Malaysian Public Works Department

Malaysian Public Works Department

Malaysian Public Works Department ' or Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia ' is the federal government department in Malaysia under Malaysian Ministry of Works which is responsible for construction and maintenance of public infrastructure in Malaysia such as federal and state roads, public government...

 (JKR) monument was erected in Pulau Banding near the Lake Temenggor Bridge

Lake Temenggor Bridge

Lake Temenggor Bridge is the longest highway bridge on the East-West Highway, . It crosses Temenggor Lake, a hydroelectric dam in Perak, Malaysia. Near the bridge is the Malaysian Public Works Department monument...

 on 1 July 1982 to commemorate those who died during construction of the East-West Highway and lake bridge. The plaques reads Jalan Raya Timur Barat (1970-1982): Pengorbanan Dalam Kenangan. (East West Highway (1970–1982): The Greatest Sacrifice).

Notable features

• There is one semi tunnel on the highway. It is probably the only one of its type in Malaysia.
• There are many military bunkers along the highway.
• There are two rest and service area
  Rest area
  A rest area, travel plaza, rest stop, or service area is a public facility, located next to a large thoroughfare such as a highway, expressway, or freeway at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting on to secondary roads...
  
   along the highway. One at Pulau Banding and one at Air Banun (1,050m above sea level)

List of junctions and towns

Km	Exit	Interchanges/Junctions	To	Remarks
0		GERIK Gerik Gerik is a district capital town of Hulu Perak district in Perak, Malaysia. The town is also known as Rest Town owing to its strategic location next to major highways of the country, East-West Highway....  (North) Kampung Bahru Batu Dua	NORTH Sungai Petani Sungai Petani Sungai Petani is a town in the state of Kedah, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star.-Etmylogy:... Baling Baling Baling is a major town in the northern state of Kedah in Malaysia. It is also the name of a district in which Baling town is situated. It is south of Betong, the southernmost town in Thailand.-Origin of name:... Pengkalan Hulu Pengkalan Hulu Pengkalan Hulu, formerly known as Kroh or Keroh, is a town within Hulu Perak district, in northern Perak, Malaysia bordering Thailand and also the state of Kedah... SOUTH Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the downstream of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar.-History:... Lenggong Lenggong Lenggong is a town in Perak, Malaysia. It is situated 100 km north of Ipoh.-Introduction:The Lenggong valley in Ulu Perak is one of Peninsular Malaysia's most important areas for archaeology, as excavations have revealed many traces of Malaysia's prehistory. It is the site of the oldest known place...	Town centre T-Junctions
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY Start/End of highway
|	Taman Puncak Nilam
		Jalan Baling-Gerik Jalan Baling-Gerik Jalan Baling-Gerik is a major road in Kedah and Perak state, Malaysia.- List of junctions and towns :...	WEST JALAN BALING-GERIK Jalan Baling-Gerik Jalan Baling-Gerik is a major road in Kedah and Perak state, Malaysia.- List of junctions and towns :... Kupang Baling Kulim Butterworth	T-junctions
		Kuala Rui ----m above sea level	SOUTHEAST JALAN TEMENGGOR Kampung Bendang Riang Kampung Basia Lama Temenggor Dam Temenggor Dam The Temenggor Dam or Temenggor Power Station is a dam in Gerik, Perak, Malaysia. It is located on Sungai Perak about 200 km northeast of Ipoh. Construction of the dam impounded Temenggor Lake.-Power station:...	T-junctions
		Lake Temenggor Bridge Lake Temenggor Bridge Lake Temenggor Bridge is the longest highway bridge on the East-West Highway, . It crosses Temenggor Lake, a hydroelectric dam in Perak, Malaysia. Near the bridge is the Malaysian Public Works Department monument... Lake Temenggor Temenggor Lake Temenggor Lake is the second largest lake in Peninsula Malaysia after Kenyir Lake in Terengganu, Malaysia. This man-made lake is located in Hulu Perak district in the state of Perak. It was created due to the construction of Temenggor Dam to generate electric. The lake is located about 45 km... ----m above sea level
		PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level	PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor Belum Rainforest Resort Malaysian Public Works Department Malaysian Public Works Department Malaysian Public Works Department ' or Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia ' is the federal government department in Malaysia under Malaysian Ministry of Works which is responsible for construction and maintenance of public infrastructure in Malaysia such as federal and state roads, public government...  (JKR) monument	T-junctions
		Petronas Petronas PETRONAS, short for Petroliam Nasional Berhad, is a Malaysian oil and gas company that was founded on August 17, 1974. Wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia, the corporation is vested with the entire oil and gas resources in Malaysia and is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and... ----m above sea level	Petronas Petronas PETRONAS, short for Petroliam Nasional Berhad, is a Malaysian oil and gas company that was founded on August 17, 1974. Wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia, the corporation is vested with the entire oil and gas resources in Malaysia and is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and...
		PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level	PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor Banding Island Resort	T-junctions
		Lake Temenggor Bridge Lake Temenggor Bridge Lake Temenggor Bridge is the longest highway bridge on the East-West Highway, . It crosses Temenggor Lake, a hydroelectric dam in Perak, Malaysia. Near the bridge is the Malaysian Public Works Department monument... Lake Temenggor Temenggor Lake Temenggor Lake is the second largest lake in Peninsula Malaysia after Kenyir Lake in Terengganu, Malaysia. This man-made lake is located in Hulu Perak district in the state of Perak. It was created due to the construction of Temenggor Dam to generate electric. The lake is located about 45 km... ----m above sea level
		Belum Forest ----m above sea level
		Air Banun ----m above sea level
		East-West Highway Rest and Service Area 1,050m above sea level		Highway rest and service area Military controlled area No trespassing
Perak Darul Ridzuan Hulu Perak district border
Perak-Kelantan border
Kelantan Darul Naim Jeli district border
		Semi tunnel Tunnel A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers... ----m above sea level
		Sungai Pergau bridge ----m above sea level
		Kampung Lawar ----m above sea level	WEST Batu Melintang Kalai	T-junctions
		Sungai Pergau bridge ----m above sea level
		Kampung Gunong ----m above sea level	WEST Batu Melintang Kalai	T-junctions
		Pergau ----m above sea level
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY Start/End of highway
		JELI Jeli Jeli is a town and territory in Kelantan, Malaysia. As of 2000, the district's population is estimated to be 42,882. Jeli is administered by the Jeli District Council. Jeli is bordered by the state of Perak to the west, Thailand to the north, Tanah Merah district to the north east and Kuala Krai...	SOUTH Gua Musang Gua Musang Gua Musang is a town and territory in Kelantan, Malaysia. It is the largest district in Kelantan. Gua Musang is administered by the Gua Musang District Council. Gua Musang district is bordered by the state of Pahang to the south, Terengganu to the east, Perak to the west and the Kelantanese... Dabong Dabong Dabong is a small town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The famous Gua Ikan is situated nearby on the Galas River.Dabong is situated in the Jeli Municipality.-External links:...	Town centre T-Junctions
		JELI Jeli Jeli is a town and territory in Kelantan, Malaysia. As of 2000, the district's population is estimated to be 42,882. Jeli is administered by the Jeli District Council. Jeli is bordered by the state of Perak to the west, Thailand to the north, Tanah Merah district to the north east and Kuala Krai...  (East)	SOUTH JALAN JELI TIMUR Gua Musang Gua Musang Gua Musang is a town and territory in Kelantan, Malaysia. It is the largest district in Kelantan. Gua Musang is administered by the Gua Musang District Council. Gua Musang district is bordered by the state of Pahang to the south, Terengganu to the east, Perak to the west and the Kelantanese... Dabong Dabong Dabong is a small town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The famous Gua Ikan is situated nearby on the Galas River.Dabong is situated in the Jeli Municipality.-External links:...	T-junctions
			EAST Tanah Merah Tanah Merah Tanah Merah is a territory and town in the state of Kelantan in northeast Malaysia.The capital and main town is Bandar Tanah Merah where is situated nearby Sungai Kelantan.It is bordered by Pasir Mas in the north, Machang to the East, Kuala Krai to the South East, Jeli to the South West and... Machang Machang Machang is a territory of Kelantan, Malaysia. It is bordered by the districts of Kota Bharu to the north, Pasir Puteh to the east, Tanah Merah to the west and Kuala Krai to the south. It is home to one of the branch campuses of Universiti Teknologi MARA... Kota Bharu Kota Bharu Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies... Kuala Krai Kuala Krai Kuala Krai is a territory and town in the interior of the State of Kelantan in the north-east of Malaysia.-Kuala Krai territory:... Pasir Puteh Pasir Puteh Pasir Puteh is a territory and town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu.-History:... Besut Besut Besut is a district in the Malaysian state of Terengganu. It is bordered by the state of Kelantan to the north and the South China Sea to the east. It is the northern gateway to Terengganu. Kampung Raja is the district capital, though Jertih is more developed. Another major town is Kuala Besut.... Kuala Terengganu Kuala Terengganu -Transport:The city is connected to other towns via a good network of roads and also some ferries that ply the Terengganu River. The Sultan Mahmud Bridge, a bridge over the Terengganu River, provides a road link to both banks of the river...